MLB Baseball 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 18, 2026, 11:30 PM ET
Spring Training Pitching & Injury Updates
Dodgers phenom Shohei Ohtani made a highly anticipated spring mound debut, delivering four scoreless innings where he allowed just one hit and two walks while registering four strikeouts, showcasing velocity touching 99 mph in his first official look on the rubber this season. Conversely, the Brewers suffered a setback as left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison was forced to exit his start prematurely due to the development of a blister on his left index finger, complicating Milwaukee's ongoing evaluation for its starting rotation. Meanwhile, the Mariners face uncertainty regarding shortstop J.P. Crawford's availability for Opening Day after he required a cortisone injection to address a persistent shoulder issue that has hampered his preparation.
Infield Personnel Finalized
The Red Sox confirmed Caleb Durbin will assume the starting third baseman role on Opening Day following his acquisition from the Brewers just before camp began, while the team anticipates second base duties falling to Mayer. These positional decisions finalize key spots for the American League contenders as they ramp up toward the regular season schedule.